NC - Kathy Taft, 62, Raleigh, 6 March 2010 - #4

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  • #201
I'm going back over some of the earliest details of this case. It sheds a lot of light on why people have been confused from the get go on this incident. There has been some secrecy (because it's an open investigation and LE needs to keep things close to the vest), inaccurate reporting, and rumors.

From what I gathered, when Kathy was first discovered by her sis, she was bandaged around the head because of surgery the day prior. (fwiw, it was neck surgery, at least from a video report I saw last evening) When Kathy was non responsive, her sis thought it was because of complications from surgery and called 911. Kathy was taken to the hospital and (assuming here) when the surgeon removed her bandages, he found she'd been assaulted. It was only then LE was called in. FWIW, I also saw where one report said she'd had leg surgery, which contributed to the confusion and wild speculation of why would her head be bandaged then? (see how it gets started)

The first news reports and LE didn't come out with their first statement until IIRC, five days after the initial assault. This again led to wild speculation. LE sealed documents, again adding to speculation. This is SOP, btw, 'sealing records,' to guarantee the integrity of the investigation. This again led to 'rumors,' it had to do with her job, it was an ex-bf/spouse, her sis, etc.

As far as the sis's statements, I don't know if they were inconsistant or not, but LE does and are satisfied she told what she knew, eventhough at the time, she was under duress and 'shock.' These set of circumstances can rattle your brain. Which may be why she MAY NOT recall if she heard foot-steps or not and EXACTLY what time she checked or not. When you don't realize every minute counts, you don't REALLY pay attention, just estimate, in your mind.............Oh, and from one of our Websleuthers, from early on who knows someone who knows someone ;), the house was multi-level and as this was the first time the sis had been there, the 'house' noises could have added to her confusion. Also, imo, when one wakes up, sometimes you can imagine something woke you up, when it MAY NOT have...........just food for thought.


Of course, EVERY TIME an incident like this occurs, LE looks CLOSE to the victim first. It's a matter of 'elimination.' It takes a few days or even weeks to eliminate those close, but at the same time they're also looking outside the circle of family and friends as well. Soon after the incident, LE obtained DNA from family, friends, and then neighbors. They were quietly behind the scenes doing their J O B.

I'm sure today's presser will not answer all questions, but it most likely will put to rest SOME of the rumors and speculation floating around. They can't reveal all they have because they need to keep some stuff for trial. A good investigator never reveals all his hand. (this info from a famous, late LE officer, Jamie Skeeters (may he rip).)


JMHO
fran

PS...one of earliest reports.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7205601/
Police Called From Hospital

another earlier report.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7215230/
Police: Considerable Progress in Official's Slaying
 
  • #202
A sort of amusing story - after dinner last night I came into our office to catch up on my Websleuths reading and saw that an arrest had been made. Of course I wanted to read every detail and watch the videos about the arrest. My darling husband and child decided that was the time they wanted to join me in the office and my husband wanted to make random small talk. I tried to be nice but was screaming in my head, "Get out of here! I MUST read this NOW!!!" They eventually left and went upstairs when they realized I wasn't going to be very good company at that particular moment.
 
  • #203
It's one thing to break in homes to steal for food and drugs....killing and raping a sleeping 62 year old woman bandaged like a mummy is off the charts weird.

Apparently, he was up at the Litchford detective division from noon until 10:45PM. I'm sure they confronted him with the 'iron clad' DNA and asked for a confession. I guess it will be a while before we know exactly what went on in that interrogation room.


Oh, is that the same as the Atlantic Ave. location? I think Atlantic becomes Litchford at some point, but I heard them say Atlantic.

I did'nt realize he had been there that long! Man, that's plenty of time for lots to be said. Hard to believe he didn't give thought to what he would say in all these weeks. Maybe he's got a story lined up. Depending on how clever he is, he could claim there is a logical explanation for the DNA, assuming it's semen, but deny the assault. It would be risky, but worth trying if you must go to trial and are tying to avoid the DP.

If they announce a full confession today at 2:00, I will drop to my knees. I hope they can avoid a trial in this case.
 
  • #204
My guess is we will hear Monday afternoon he is unemployed and indigent and need a public defender.

It will be interesting to see if his family is at the arraignment for support?
Not that this means anything, but his parents like 'luxury brand' cars....just old ones.
Dad drives a 13 year old BMW and mama a 14 year old Mercedes station wagon.
 
  • #205
You are correct Prancy.."Most of the police department's Detective Division has moved to 4501 Atlantic Ave."

There is a police substation on litchford Rd.
 
  • #206
CANNOT Even say how relieved I am they have found the Perp. Must have so much evidence we could not even begin to think of to be so certain about him. My guess they tracked him down by pawn shops & items he sold. did a dna & background check on all males who sold anything to pawn shops in the nearby area & got their RAT!

anyway, of course, I like everyone else, watch & read every post every night. same thing - family please dont talk to me while I am deeply engrossed in reading these posts!

So Here I have another theory about the timeline of the perp. think about this. couldn't he have done whatever he did, (he could have actually stolen something from the house -that is one fact we dont know about from LE for certain do we) that could have shown up. at any rate, he does his thing in the night when he is drugged up, gets in the house 'cause the door is unlocked or 'cause Dina invites him in, who knows. but -- door is unlocked all night. Perp comes back to the scene of the crime, perhaps that is just what he did - in the morning when he was sober or clear, came back to take something he left behind or get rid of any evidence he may have left. or to tidy K up. but did not get it all obviously the bag corners could have been in the garbage. but that would make more sense of the confusing time line of D wouldn't it??
 
  • #207
Heads up....if any locals plan on attending the 2PM arrainment on Monday, it is in a small courtroom on the first floor of the pulblic saftey Center / Jail...not the courthouse.
 
  • #208
CANNOT Even say how relieved I am they have found the Perp. Must have so much evidence we could not even begin to think of to be so certain about him. My guess they tracked him down by pawn shops & items he sold. did a dna & background check on all males who sold anything to pawn shops in the nearby area & got their RAT!

anyway, of course, I like everyone else, watch & read every post every night. same thing - family please dont talk to me while I am deeply engrossed in reading these posts!

So Here I have another theory about the timeline of the perp. think about this. couldn't he have done whatever he did, (he could have actually stolen something from the house -that is one fact we dont know about from LE for certain do we) that could have shown up. at any rate, he does his thing in the night when he is drugged up, gets in the house 'cause the door is unlocked or 'cause Dina invites him in, who knows. but -- door is unlocked all night. Perp comes back to the scene of the crime, perhaps that is just what he did - in the morning when he was sober or clear, came back to take something he left behind or get rid of any evidence he may have left. or to tidy K up. but did not get it all obviously the bag corners could have been in the garbage. but that would make more sense of the confusing time line of D wouldn't it??

It will be very interesting if they tracked him down as the suspect in the recently solved break-in of Mr Andrews home. If he did that one too and pawned the items, talk about desperate...not to mention off the charts stupid.
 
  • #209
It seems Kathy Taft had friends in high places. I know the governor attended her memorial services and according to one news report, she had run for state senate, her ex is a former senator and they are friends with the Gores.

Believe me, LE is NOT going to make any mistakes on this case, that's for sure! I'll bet EVERY T is crossed AND I is dotted here.

fwiw,
fran


http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/07/374699/police-investigate-taft-injury.html
She ran for a state Senate seat in 2008. Her ex-husband, Tom Taft, is a former state senator from Greenville. The Tafts were longtime friends of former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper. The couples vacationed together at Figure Eight Island.
 
  • #210
It will be very interesting if they tracked him down as the suspect in the recently solved break-in of Mr Andrews home. If he did that one too and pawned the items, talk about desperate...not to mention off the charts stupid.

My guess is that he's off the charts addicted -- & that's the genesis of his demise.
 
  • #211
Arrest warrants say the attack occurred "on or about" March 6.
That sounds like they are thinking +/- after midnight.

You can watch the PC live at 2PM ....http://www.wral.com
 
  • #212
Arrest warrants say the attack occurred "on or about" March 6.
That sounds like they are thinking +/- after midnight.

You can watch the PC live at 2PM ....http://www.wral.com

Yep, that tracks with D possibly being out of the house around that time, before the bars closed, but after sister turned in for the night.
 
  • #213
Heads up....if any locals plan on attending the 2PM arrainment on Monday, it is in a small courtroom on the first floor of the pulblic saftey Center / Jail...not the courthouse.

It's super small so I bet they will admit only if you have reason to be there. I'm sure there will be a line to get in.
 
  • #214
"He says police were able to return his big screen TV and a camera stolen in the burglary. Andrews says they found them in a pawn shop in Raleigh and said they had also identified a suspect."
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7384257

If find it odd this burglary suspect was not named and the media has not followed up to see that the cops made an arrest. I am suspecting more and more this B&E suspect may in fact be Jason Williford.
 
  • #215
It's super small so I bet they will admit only if you have reason to be there. I'm sure there will be a line to get in.

Yea, only 3 rows and standing room for the media in the back.



YOUNG-1216_ART_G46105IP4_1YOUNG3_NE.jpg
 
  • #216
CANNOT Even say how relieved I am they have found the Perp. Must have so much evidence we could not even begin to think of to be so certain about him. My guess they tracked him down by pawn shops & items he sold. did a dna & background check on all males who sold anything to pawn shops in the nearby area & got their RAT!

anyway, of course, I like everyone else, watch & read every post every night. same thing - family please dont talk to me while I am deeply engrossed in reading these posts!

So Here I have another theory about the timeline of the perp. think about this. couldn't he have done whatever he did, (he could have actually stolen something from the house -that is one fact we dont know about from LE for certain do we) that could have shown up. at any rate, he does his thing in the night when he is drugged up, gets in the house 'cause the door is unlocked or 'cause Dina invites him in, who knows. but -- door is unlocked all night. Perp comes back to the scene of the crime, perhaps that is just what he did - in the morning when he was sober or clear, came back to take something he left behind or get rid of any evidence he may have left. or to tidy K up. but did not get it all obviously the bag corners could have been in the garbage. but that would make more sense of the confusing time line of D wouldn't it??


That is certainly a possible scenerio that would explain the late morning footsteps, however, you must be VERY bold to go back to a scene like that, plus it being daylight. You would be taking further risk at being indentified.
 
  • #217
I hope someone from the media follows up with this through the trial or atleast gets all the facts if he does confess. There's a reason why myself and the other "websleuthers" can't comprehend all this -we don't think like murderers or rapists and are not addicted to meth, crack or some other type drug.
Atleast 2 lifes are now ruined and for this i am very sad today.
 
  • #218
Thinking out loud randomness - the Taft family may choose to go for a plea bargain so that some details of the case may not come out that they wish to remain "in the family".
 
  • #219
Wonder if the tall, thin man with the backward baseball cap seen on video at HT turns out to be Jason Williford :eek:
 
  • #220
Thinking out loud randomness - the Taft family may choose to go for a plea bargain so that some details of the case may not come out that they wish to remain "in the family".

I'm thinking before this is over, he may agree to 2nd degree murder and 1st degree rape.....out in 40 years.
 
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